Okay, this will be the last time I mention my non-ability to sleep. Cause I'm getting really sick of it -- so I can imagine you are. So, if you don't want to read all about it, just scroll down to the bottom, and make a comment like "I'm so sorry and I hope you feel better" and I will be none the wiser!
But, since this is my 'journal', I feel the need to record this era in my life, so if you do care to read about it, here it goes: I can't sleep. I have 'restless leg syndrome' or RLS. I know it sounds like a joke syndrome. I've had it since my early 20's, though, and there is NOTHING funny about not being able to sleep. I think I have a pretty bad case of it.
I went to my family doctor and he wanted to give me this medicine that they give people with Parkinson's to help with the shaking. I was on this years ago and the side effects were bad, so I stopped. So, I didn't want to repeat that. He did some blood work and found out I have pretty bad anemia. So, I started taking iron.
Next doctor. I went to this natural medicine clinic up in Scottsdale. My brother had gone there a while back and they did this fancy test with your blood to test for everything that is wrong with you and really 'try to get at the root of the problem' instead of just throwing pills at you. Trouble was, they don't take insurance. But, I was pretty desperate, so I paid the $350 doctor visit fee. It wasn't until my appointment was almost through that I realized they weren't going to take and test my blood. I asked about it, as that was the reason I went in the first place, and he said, "Oh, we don't do that anymore. We are in a legal battle with the FDA and those tests are now only for certain cancer patients". I sure wish I had known that before I drove all the way out there and paid all that money to hear him tell me he had no idea how to treat RLS and that maybe minerals were the answer. At one point he said, "Have you ever been bitten by a tic? Maybe you have lyme's disease." He asked me the various symptoms, of which I had none, and then said, "Well, even though you aren't symptomatic, I'd suggest you get this test for lyme's disease just to rule it out". (the test cost $400). Ummmm... no. But, I did start taking more minerals.
The next day I went to see an "RLS" specialist that Dave had found via the always perfect and informative internet. After one particularly tough night a few weeks ago (on this actual night, I took a shower in my sleep! I've heard of sleep-walking, sleep-eating, but sleep-showering???? That has got to be a first!), anyway, Dave looked up RLS and cross-referenced the specialists with our insurance and got me an appointment in down town Phoenix. So, he went with me, and after waiting 1 hour and 15 minutes for the doctor (no exaggeration), she came in and asked what we were there for. I explained I had "RLS" and she didn't know what it was! Dave explained how we had found her practice on the internet and that she was listed as a specialist. She laughed and said she had never heard of that website and had no idea why she would be considered a specialist, since she was an internist that dealt mainly with kidney disorders! At least she was nice and tried to help how she could, although she just wanted to prescribe the exact same medicine my original family doctor wanted me on. (the one I reacted to badly).
So, I've decided that the sheer volume of my abhorrence of doctor appointments is going to be enough to heal me! I actually have slept the last three nights -- which is a record! So, maybe it is working! (that, or the iron and minerals were truly the answer!).
Alright, so done with the sleeping saga. I promise no more blogging about it! So, here is a fun Teya quote to end with.
We were driving in the car and Josh said, "Today I learned about fractions in school". So I said,
"How many halves in a whole?"
Josh: "Two"
Jennie: "How many quarters in a whole?"
Josh: "Four"
Teya: "How many squirrels in a hole?"
(she just wanted to be part of the fun! Isn't that a smart comment? what brilliant kids!:))
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, July 14, 2008
Should I sue for emotional distress?
Okay, for the past 6 weeks, I have been plagued by some health issues, which started out pretty minor. I haven't been able to write about them until they were resolved, and today I finally got a hint of a resolution! So, read the following account of what happened and then let me know if I should sue? (kidding -- I'm not the suing type).
I started getting some tingling and numbness in both my arms and hands about 6 weeks ago. I thought it was just nerve damage and sought out some deep-tissue massages. They helped and I thought it would just take more time. But, I also just wanted to rule out anything else more major, like arthritis or diabetes or even carpal tunnel syndrome that could be causing this. I met with the doctor and got my blood drawn. I was told I'd get the results back in 2 days. That was about 4 weeks ago. After 3 days, I still hadn't heard back, so I called and asked if they were back yet. I was told that the doctor had to order 'more detailed labs' based on the abnormal results from my first set of labs. Not good news. I was leaving for vacation the next day so I begged them to rush the second set of labs.
So, the day I was leaving for vacation, I came home from running errands to a message, "We have your lab results, and you need to schedule an appointment to discuss them". Again, not good news. I called and made an appointment for that day, since I wasn't going to go out of town on news like that. I totally rearranged my already hectic schedule (you know how it is on the day you are leaving) to make the appointment. Dave was going to get off work for it, etc. Then, about 1 hour later, they called back and said, "Sorry, there was a miscommunication, we don't have ALL the labs back, so don't bother coming in today. We'll let you know next week". Well, I said I was going out of town and demanded they tell me what was abnormal in my labs that caused the doctor to order more. I was told my blood sugar was high (a sign of diabetes) and that my hemoglobin was low (anemia). So, armed with that information I went off to vacation.
I was actually able to enjoy the vacation and didn't really think about it too much after my sister (a nurse) explained that the numbers of my labs were just barely abnormal and nothing to worry about.
When I got back, I called to see if the results were in -- no they weren't. What? It had been so long! Then, the next day, I came home to another message asking to call the office because they had received the labs and I needed to come in to discuss them. I called the office back to schedule the appointment and the gal who schedules the appointments told me over the phone, "Your labs indicated that you are diabetic and have severe anemia". Oh.
So much for waiting to discuss it with the doctor. She scheduled me for a week later -- and I was too stunned to realize that I'd never be able to wait a week to discuss those results. About an hour later, I came to my senses and called them back to reschedule the appointment for just 2 days later.
Those were a LONG two days. Finding out you have diabetes is very scary. I went to the handy-dandy internet and searched and discovered that I was more likely type I than type II. There is a 25% correlation between my thryoid disorder (hashimotos) and type I. They are both immune based. So, I started stressing about giving myself daily injections of insulin, counting carbs, not being able to eat sour patch kids, you know -- the usual stressors! No, it was really scary. I even went grocery shopping and spent twice as much on 1/2 the amount of food -- healthy food. It is expensive to eat right.
My appointment came, and so did Dave. The doctor let me know that they didn't know if it was type I or II, and so ordered another fasting blood test to determine that. She also added on a thyroid test onto my labs to see if there was a correlation -- I had shared my internet find with her about the 25 % correlation between the two disorders. Dave also let her know how unprofessional it was for their assistant to tell me so flippantly about the diabetes diagnosis over the phone. She apologized profusely. She also let me know that I had pretty severe iron-deficiency anemia. I was scheduled to go into the hospital for an IV infusion of iron to kickstart that process.
So, last friday I waited an hour to get my blood drawn. This morning I spent 3 hours in the outpatient center getting an iron IV (which looks like motor oil going into your bloodstream). Then, after coming home and barely sitting down to rest, the phone rang. It was my doctor saying she had the lab results back (from just last Friday -- fast!). I am definitely not type II diabetic, and it is barely negative for type I. So, I asked her if that meant I don't have diabetes? She said that my thyroid tests indicated hyperthyroidism which could be the cause for the elevated blood sugar levels. So, now I have to meet with my endocrinologist (thyroid doctor) and get him to adjust my medication levels and (fingers crossed), that will take care of the diabetes issue. Although I do have to exercise regularly and eat few carbs for the next few months while we see if that is truly the cause of all this. So, that was some really good news.
The ironic part of all of this is, 6 weeks later, my hands and arms are still tingling and numb. I go in on Thursday to get a nerve study done to see if it is carpal tunnel syndrome. If it's not that, maybe I'll go back to the deep tissue massages....
I started getting some tingling and numbness in both my arms and hands about 6 weeks ago. I thought it was just nerve damage and sought out some deep-tissue massages. They helped and I thought it would just take more time. But, I also just wanted to rule out anything else more major, like arthritis or diabetes or even carpal tunnel syndrome that could be causing this. I met with the doctor and got my blood drawn. I was told I'd get the results back in 2 days. That was about 4 weeks ago. After 3 days, I still hadn't heard back, so I called and asked if they were back yet. I was told that the doctor had to order 'more detailed labs' based on the abnormal results from my first set of labs. Not good news. I was leaving for vacation the next day so I begged them to rush the second set of labs.
So, the day I was leaving for vacation, I came home from running errands to a message, "We have your lab results, and you need to schedule an appointment to discuss them". Again, not good news. I called and made an appointment for that day, since I wasn't going to go out of town on news like that. I totally rearranged my already hectic schedule (you know how it is on the day you are leaving) to make the appointment. Dave was going to get off work for it, etc. Then, about 1 hour later, they called back and said, "Sorry, there was a miscommunication, we don't have ALL the labs back, so don't bother coming in today. We'll let you know next week". Well, I said I was going out of town and demanded they tell me what was abnormal in my labs that caused the doctor to order more. I was told my blood sugar was high (a sign of diabetes) and that my hemoglobin was low (anemia). So, armed with that information I went off to vacation.
I was actually able to enjoy the vacation and didn't really think about it too much after my sister (a nurse) explained that the numbers of my labs were just barely abnormal and nothing to worry about.
When I got back, I called to see if the results were in -- no they weren't. What? It had been so long! Then, the next day, I came home to another message asking to call the office because they had received the labs and I needed to come in to discuss them. I called the office back to schedule the appointment and the gal who schedules the appointments told me over the phone, "Your labs indicated that you are diabetic and have severe anemia". Oh.
So much for waiting to discuss it with the doctor. She scheduled me for a week later -- and I was too stunned to realize that I'd never be able to wait a week to discuss those results. About an hour later, I came to my senses and called them back to reschedule the appointment for just 2 days later.
Those were a LONG two days. Finding out you have diabetes is very scary. I went to the handy-dandy internet and searched and discovered that I was more likely type I than type II. There is a 25% correlation between my thryoid disorder (hashimotos) and type I. They are both immune based. So, I started stressing about giving myself daily injections of insulin, counting carbs, not being able to eat sour patch kids, you know -- the usual stressors! No, it was really scary. I even went grocery shopping and spent twice as much on 1/2 the amount of food -- healthy food. It is expensive to eat right.
My appointment came, and so did Dave. The doctor let me know that they didn't know if it was type I or II, and so ordered another fasting blood test to determine that. She also added on a thyroid test onto my labs to see if there was a correlation -- I had shared my internet find with her about the 25 % correlation between the two disorders. Dave also let her know how unprofessional it was for their assistant to tell me so flippantly about the diabetes diagnosis over the phone. She apologized profusely. She also let me know that I had pretty severe iron-deficiency anemia. I was scheduled to go into the hospital for an IV infusion of iron to kickstart that process.
So, last friday I waited an hour to get my blood drawn. This morning I spent 3 hours in the outpatient center getting an iron IV (which looks like motor oil going into your bloodstream). Then, after coming home and barely sitting down to rest, the phone rang. It was my doctor saying she had the lab results back (from just last Friday -- fast!). I am definitely not type II diabetic, and it is barely negative for type I. So, I asked her if that meant I don't have diabetes? She said that my thyroid tests indicated hyperthyroidism which could be the cause for the elevated blood sugar levels. So, now I have to meet with my endocrinologist (thyroid doctor) and get him to adjust my medication levels and (fingers crossed), that will take care of the diabetes issue. Although I do have to exercise regularly and eat few carbs for the next few months while we see if that is truly the cause of all this. So, that was some really good news.
The ironic part of all of this is, 6 weeks later, my hands and arms are still tingling and numb. I go in on Thursday to get a nerve study done to see if it is carpal tunnel syndrome. If it's not that, maybe I'll go back to the deep tissue massages....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
